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NCTE has announced Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jones and The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illus. by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, as the 2025 Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck award winners, respectively.
PREMIUM
Harriet Hound
An amiable chapter book that illuminates the daily life of a child on the autism spectrum while providing information on dogs. An unnecessary fantasy element adds little to the storytelling.
PREMIUM
Bulldozer’s Big Rescue
A touching story of overcoming social fears, perfect for early chapter book readers or those younger to read with a loved one.
PREMIUM
The Jellyfish Bus
A feel-good graphic novel about doing what you love and being flexible. Recommended for readers who enjoy some facts with their fiction adventure stories.
A relatable story for young readers on the ups and downs of friendship in elementary school.
A fast-paced adventure for confident readers willing to tackle unfamiliar words.
PREMIUM
Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret
Early readers will be looking forward to reading Lucy’s next adventure.
A chapter book about friendship and SEL that will be a great fit for children’s collections.
PREMIUM
Spring Fever! (Disney Stitch)
Nothing groundbreaking, but fans of the movie will forgive the formulaic plot.
PREMIUM
The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day
A fresh look at the early reader superhero genre with unbeatable art that pushes boundaries.
PREMIUM
The King and Nothing
An enchanting story that is recommended for readers across a wide grade range.
PREMIUM
Saif’s Special Patches
This warm tale about self-realization and growth is recommended for picture book collections.
The illustrations and the author’s use of rhyme work wonderfully together in a lovingly crafted story of diversity.
PREMIUM
This Is a Moment
A heartwarming celebration of life’s milestones captured in a fun read that will come in handy during story hours.
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Sand Cakes
A sweet story of hard work, enthusiasm, and ultimately finding the right audience.
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Nellie’s Big Splash
A lovely tale of finding courage when embracing new adventures, just right for the early elementary shelves.
A day with forest friends is a day well spent; put this on the “baby’s first nature encounters” shelf and mingle with more fanciful titles on the subject.
An excellent addition to those needing informational texts about travel for children.
An uplifting message of positivity about culture, and a first choice for elementary level libraries.
Henry will help many children feel better about their worries, making this a good choice for early elementary collections in need of contemporary graphic novels.
PREMIUM
The Rules of Royalty
An LGBTQIA+ romance reminiscent of The Princess Diaries with characters readers will root for.
PREMIUM
Ex Marks the Spot
This beautifully written adventure is for readers who have a great interest in Taiwan and its culture, particularly the various specialty foods. For those who are looking for a perfectly sweet romance story, this book is a must-read.
PREMIUM
The Losting Fountain
Fans of dark fantasy with horrifying monsters and action will enjoy the rising action of this novel and its unique world. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Dust
This coming-of-age novel is poetic with vivid descriptions and comes highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Brewed with Love
This tale of a misbrewed potion is great for any YA collection where magical realism, sapphic, and witchy titles are already popular.
Fans of the X-Men and thrillers like the “John Wick” movies or Atomic Blonde will enjoy this caper.
This reads like a car wreck sitcom: impossible to look away from in the best way possible. It is difficult to imagine fans of Heartstopper not loving Patch and his larger-than-life personality on the quest for love.
PREMIUM
Heavenly Tyrant
Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy. Recommended for collections with the first book.
PREMIUM
Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue
An engrossing supernatural story with a nice slow burn romance. The first book does not need to be read but provides readers with a better understanding of the characters. Strong first buy.
PREMIUM
You’re Dead to Me
This book will appeal to readers seeking a fast-paced high school horror with serial killers, supernatural visions, and plenty of suspense. Recommended for fans of Gretchen McNeil and Cynthia Murphy.
PREMIUM
What the Woods Took
An enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance framed in horror, with transformation at its core.
PREMIUM
Better Than Revenge
YA romancers will not be disappointed in this coming-of-age narrative! Recommended for all school and public libraries.
PREMIUM
All the Best Dogs
A sweet story for dogs who love to be read to and the middle schoolers who love them.
PREMIUM
The Factory
Readers will devour this middle grade cli-fi adventure with excellent characters and a fascinating concept.
PREMIUM
Planet Perfect
If Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games took place in space and was written for elementary school readers, this would be it. An additional purchase.
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Away
Intended readers are more likely to suspend disbelief and gloss over credibility issues as they tear through the text to see what happens to Maddie and her community.
A realistic fiction story about persisting through fear and the power of friendship that is marred by weak characterization and a troublesome portrayal of mental health support.
PREMIUM
The Song of Orphan’s Garden
A carefully crafted fantasy adventure set in poetry, its steeper lead-in makes it less approachable than Megan Freeman’s Alone. Purchase for larger fantasy collections.
A riveting and welcome addition to the middle grade historical fiction market; recommended for all elementary and middle school library collections.
PREMIUM
The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie
With the humor and pain that accompanies forced truth-telling, this book explores deeper familial, friendship, self-care, and cultural issues in a fun page-turner.
PREMIUM
Mountain Upside Down
A realistic novel that despite some narrative wandering presents a sweet tale of teen angst, intergenerational support, and young queer love.
A wonderful middle school story about family, friendship, and determining the right path. A must-purchase for all libraries.
PREMIUM
Tear This Down
Freya is a character that readers will root for. Recommended for middle grade collections and for curriculum enrichment on primary source research and social activism.
A must-purchase; this is a timely title for middle school students as well as parents, teachers, and librarians who are looking for powerful mirrors or windows into trans experiences.
Lovers of space and science fiction simply must have this one on their shelves and in their TBR.
PREMIUM
We Are the Beasts
Exciting historical horror; full of sharp turns and fast-paced action with a fiery, feminist heart.
PREMIUM
I Need Pants!
Funny and simple, this book will be a story hour hit with children, as well as an option for early independent reading.
PREMIUM
Norah’s Ark
A resonant work of realistic fiction that touches on housing and food insecurity, empathy, and unlikely friendships. Recommended for tween collections.
I am essentially making comfy nests where other tired hearts can rest, books with arguably naive but stubborn resilience against tough odds, and books with kind power in them.
Whether portraying a humble farming community, a home in the south of Korea, a synagogue filled with love and hope, or a neighborhood where more than small things are mended, the best picture books of 2024 celebrate how those working together are the models for humanity we want our children to witness.
PREMIUM
Ros Demir Is Not the One
Friendship and misunderstanding go hand in hand in this layered character study of a teen who longs to be accepted.
PREMIUM
Killer House Party
A unique mix of haunting and humor that captures the volatility of youth and the belief that one’s future is worth the fight, even against the supernatural.
PREMIUM
Tangleroot
A wonderful coming-of-age story that successfully explores the roles that secrets and family history play in shaping family relationships.
Ellor has truly found their stride in this sparkling tribute to a well-loved ballet that belongs first in line for purchase where teens crave classic, atmospheric fantasy or retellings.
A serviceable addition to St. Patrick’s Day books that will please readers familiar with Chloe Zoe and her friends.
PREMIUM
Around the World Celebrations
A fun addition to nonfiction areas about celebrations in parts all over the world.
PREMIUM
The Magic of Christmas Ravioli
This book would be popular in places with an Italian-centered population or in libraries looking for books about Christmas celebrations from various cultures.
PREMIUM
Baby’s First Easter
Readers hoping for the context or religiosity of Easter won’t find it here; those hoping for a cozy lapsit story featuring images of family love and springtime joy, will.
A new sibling book of a different stripe, to cherish and reread; despite the sacred, tender ceremony at its center, the story welcomes all to participate in a small moment writ large.
PREMIUM
Three City Kitties
Children will delight in looking for small details, particularly in the wordless spreads, of this lively story with special appeal to cat lovers.
PREMIUM
Dear You, Dream Big!
This book may strike an interest in collections where books such as I Am Enough by Grace Byers or Black Is a Rainbow Color by Ekua Holmes have done well; it lacks their finesse but has a tremendous underlying message.
The gift of safety is celebrated in this historical picture book that brims with messages for contemporary children: those whose families have fled to safety and those who have welcome to offer. Highly recommended for all collections, but especially useful for older elementary classes where historical conflicts and contemporary issues are discussed.
PREMIUM
Troop Esme
This book will entertain fans of “The Princess in Black,” “Mercy Watson,” and “Puggleton Park.”
PREMIUM
The Legend of Memo Castillo
A valuable addition to any collection, this early chapter book is perfect for sensitive readers seeking lighthearted fiction. It works well as a standalone, but fans will want to explore the entire series.
PREMIUM
Elvis Is Missing
As the first in a projected series, there is little here to invite reader investment in future installments. For large collections that circulate Hale’s other works.
Shifa Saltagi Safadi's novel in verse about an immigrant family, the 2016 Muslim ban, and a boy trying to balance school and family earned the prestigious prize.
Gripping fantastical journeys, family secrets, unbridled joy, and inconceivable loss: in these pages, tweens are facing it all. These 26 middle grade titles are exemplars across genre of the power of truth telling and embracing one's authentic self, even when it seems impossible.
A good guide to Easter fun and treats that readers new and old will enjoy.
One needn’t be familiar with Mulan to enjoy this gentle easy reader about Lunar New Year, which is recommended for larger libraries.
PREMIUM
Can You Find the Easter Bunny?
A multisensory title sure to make your youngest readers giggle. Purchase where other hide-and-seek style board books are popular.
PREMIUM
Rembrandt Chooses a Queen
An additional purchase for libraries that serve multi-faith populations or are looking to enhance their art or religion selections.
Dahlin’s debut earns her place on library shelves with this fantastic piece of nail-biting suspense.
PREMIUM
Bridge Across the Sky
This historical novel in verse is superb, conveying the magnitude of disrespect, hatred, and racist practices Chinese immigrants had to endure.
PREMIUM
My Salty Mary
This title is for fans of the authors’ collaborations; otherwise, for mermaids and queering the fairy tale, read Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch or Trung Le Nguyen’s The Magic Fish, and for swashbuckling and funny, historically embedded lady pirates, go to L.A. Meyer’s “Bloody Jack” series or Briony Cameron’s The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye.
Tahir is an expert at swoonworthy heroes, fierce females, and slow burn romance. Accompanied by adventure, family and found family ties, and political intrigue, this multilayered, quick-paced story is a must purchase.
It cannot be overstated how important Brett’s story is for those who need to hear it, a possible lifeline for those in need of reassurance that their experiences aren’t as uncommon as they may think.
For libraries in need of books covering the subject of partition.
PREMIUM
Brandon and the Baby
Through demonstrations of preparation, routine, praise, and love, the title serves as a valuable supplement to manage emotions, attachment stages, bonding practices, and acceptance for children struggling with jealousy and aggression after the arrival of a younger sibling.
A highly recommended addition to any library, offering visual beauty and a meaningful narrative that will resonate with young readers and educators alike.
A strong choice for elementary libraries needing books about emotions and goal-setting.
PREMIUM
Doctor Fairytale
Friends of fairy tales will enjoy reading this book aloud and exploring a familiar but somewhat modernized fairyland.
These coauthored narratives offer readers the opportunity to experience a novel from multiple perspectives, expanding worldbuilding, character development, and plot lines, proving that there are always two (or sometimes three or four) sides to every story.
The warm camaraderie of these sisters will put a smile on readers’ faces as both siblings work together for the common good. A great addition to the series and to library collections.
PREMIUM
Welcome to the Woofmore
The writing is strong and the dog hotel premise can easily be expanded for an audience in the ever-growing early chapter book genre.
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